Teaser Tuesday: 9th May 2017

May 9, 2017May 7, 2017 Ali@abookishlife8 Comments

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purple Booker. If you want to join in grab your current read, flick to a random page, select two sentences (without spoilers) and share them in a blog post or in the comments of The Purple Booker.

This week my teaser comes from Patrick Ness’s latest book Release. I started this towards the end of last week and while it feels very different from his other books I’m definitely enjoying it.

My Teaser

His chest still burned, so much he couldn’t tell where the anger stopped and the wound began. Because there was always a wound, it seemed, kept freshly opened by a family who also kept saying they loved him.

~ Page 64 Release by Patrick Ness

Blurb

Inspired by Mrs Dalloway and Judy Blume’s Forever, Release is one day in the life of Adam Thorn, 17. It’s a big day. Things go wrong. It’s intense, and all the while, weirdness approaches…

Adam Thorn is having what will turn out to be the most unsettling, difficult day of his life, with relationships fracturing, a harrowing incident at work, and a showdown between this gay teen and his preacher father that changes everything. It’s a day of confrontation, running, sex, love, heartbreak, and maybe, just maybe, hope. He won’t come out of it unchanged. And all the while, lurking at the edges of the story, something extraordinary and unsettling is on a collision course.

WWW Wednesday: 3rd May 2017

May 3, 2017May 2, 2017 Ali@abookishlife15 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

Anatomy of a Soldier I’m kind of flipping between a couple of books at the moment because I can’t really settle on any one. I think I’ve been trying to read too much and am feeling a little burnt out.

The first book I’m working my way through is book club pick, Anatomy of a Soldier by Harry Parker. Initially when I heard it was as story about a soldier who’s injured by an exploding IED narrated through a series of objects I thought “oh no!!” but once I thought about it I really liked the idea and so far I am intrigued by it.

Spandex and the City The other book I’m reading is Spandex in the City by Jenny T Colgan. This is the NetGalley ARC I can’t resist picking up when Anatomy of a Soldier gets too serious and I need a bit of light relief. Jenny Colgan is one of my favourite authors but this is a bit different from her usual food related chick lit (which I must admit I was getting a bit fed up with). It’s still kinda chick lit but with some superheroes and villains thrown into the mix. I’ve only read a few chapters but so far I’m loving it.

Recently Finished

Things calmed down a little bit at work this week and I had the long weekend so managed to fit in quite a bit of reading and finished 4 books.

Legion (Talon, #4) The first of these was Legion by Julie Kagawa which I received from NetGalley. This is the fourth of five books in the Talon series and picked up where the previous book finished with a big giant cliffhanger. I have been really enjoying this series and this one was no exception. I did find this was maybe not quite as good as the previous book Soldier but I have a feeling it’s building to a big conclusion in the final installment. I am both terrified and excited to read it. My full, spoiler free review can be found here.

Holiday in the Hamptons (From Manhattan with Love #5) The second book finished was another NetGalley ARC, Holiday in the Hamptons by Sarah Morgan. It’s the fifth book in the From Manhattan with Love series but could easily be read as a standalone as each book tells a different characters story. I love Sarah Morgan stories and was very excited to receive this. It’s a second chance romance about Fliss (who you’ll know if you’ve read New York, Actually) and her ex husband Seth. It is a little on the predictable side but I still loved it. Morgan writes some great characters and there’s always a real spark. It’s not out for a few weeks so I’m holding off on my review for a bit.

Next book finished was Never, Never part 1 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. This was a re read to meet a task on a challenge so I’m not going to review.

Also this week I finished my audio book Into the Fire by Jeaniene Frost. It’s the fifth and final book in the Night Prince series and while I think I enjoyed earlier books more this was still a great listen. It is a paranormal romance but to be perfectly honest it’s the humour I love the most.

Reading Next

I think I’ll probably be doing quite well if I finish the two books I’m currently reading but I’m off to see Patrick Ness in Edinburgh on Saturday so I’d really like to sneak in his new book Release which comes out tomorrow. If I have any more time I also want to read either A Dark so Deadly by Stuart MacBride or Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh both of which are NetGalley ARCs.

A Dark So Deadly Release Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist, #1)

Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Teaser Tuesday: 2nd May 2017

May 2, 2017May 1, 2017 Ali@abookishlife15 Comments

This week my teaser comes from Spandex and the City by Jenny T Colgan. I’m really not supposed to be reading this at the moment (I should be reading my bookclub pick) but I couldn’t resist. Colgan is another of my favourite authors and this just sounds like such a quirky and fun read that I had to start it.

My Teaser

I swore mightily to myself. I am not in the least bit brave and will not pee in a room that a spider is in or has been in or might once have been in but –

~ 8% Spandex and the City by Jenny T Colgan

Blurb

LOCAL GIRL SWEPT OFF HER FEET

Mild-mannered PR girl Holly Phillips doesn’t think much of costumed vigilante ‘Ultimate Man’ – and after his superpowered antics leave her hoisted over his shoulder and flashing her knickers in the newspaper the next day, she’s embarrassed beyond belief.

But when Holly’s fifteen minutes of fame make her a target for something villainous, she only has one place to turn – and finds the man behind the mask holds a lot more charm than his crime-fighting alter-ego.

Can Holly find love, or is superdating just as complicated as the regular kind?

WOULD LIKE TO MEET: NICE GUY, LIKES DOGS, GSOH AND NO SUPERPOWERS

WWW Wednesday: 26th April 2017

April 26, 2017April 25, 2017 Ali@abookishlife21 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I started reading Legion by Julie Kagawa yesterday so I’m only around 15% in. It’s the fourth book in her Talon series and it’s off to a good start. It’s pretty much impossible to talk about without spoilers for the previous books in the series so I’ll just say it’s a YA fantasy about dragons and leave it there. I’ve had mixed views of Kagawa’s books in the past but I’ve been enjoying this series (and her Blood Of Eden series too). I am a little bit wary though as the last book had one of the most edge of the seat endings ever. I have a horrible feeling this could be the same and I’m not sure I can take it.

On audio I’m still listening to Into the Fire by Jeaniene Frost. It’s the fourth and final book in her Night Prince series and I have been absolutely loving it. There are just so many bits that make me laugh out loud.

Recently Finished

Want You Gone (Jack Parlabane, #8) Things have gotten really busy at work again so I only managed to finish two books this week, the first of which was Want You Gone by Chris Brookmyre. Want You Gone is the 8th book in his Jack Parlabane series about an investigative journalist. While it is part of a series it could be read as a standalone as each book has a different story and theme. This time Parlabane is pulled into the world of cyber crime and industrial espionage when a hacker he’s used as a source calls and asks for his help.

This was a great story. It has a really clever and well thought out plot that doesn’t get too techie despite involving hacking. It was also good to have Jack back in a more prominent role than in the previous book in the series as he’s a great character. Without giving too much away, if you like an Ocean’s Eleven style heist in your books you’ll like this. You can read my full review here. More Than This

The other book finished this week was More Than This by Patrick Ness. This was actually a re read as I’d previously read it back in August last year. I’d picked it for real life book club (I was put on the spot and it was the first book I thought of) and it turned out to be a really good choice. All of the books we’ve read so far have been either literary fiction or crime so it was good to shake things up with something completely different. Not everyone liked it (the word “nonsense” may have been used by one person) but it definitely generated a lot of discussion. Personally I think I enjoyed it more on the second reading.

Reading Next

I went to see Stuart MacBride at a book signing last week so I’m more keen than ever to read his latest book A Dark so Deadly. He’s one of my favourite authors and I know a few people have already read this and loved it so it’s one I’m looking forward to. I’m also going to try and make a dent on my TBR with one or more of the following books.

A Dark So Deadly Wintersong Holiday in the Hamptons (From Manhattan with Love #5) Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1)

Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Teaser Tuesday: 25th April 2017

April 25, 2017April 24, 2017 Ali@abookishlife4 Comments

I’ve literally just finished a re read so I’ve been a bit undecided over which book to use for a teaser this week. As I don’t want to flick through one of my upcoming reads for fear of coming across spoilers I think I’ll go for one of my favourite reads Know Not Why by Hannah Johnson. I’m not sure what it is about this book but it just makes me happy.

My Teaser

We go through a door with a ‘DO NOT ENTER’ sign on it.

“But it says-” Kristy starts.

“If it’s not locked, then they don’t really mean it,” Cora replies bluntly.

~ 73% Know Not Why by Hannah Johnson

Blurb

Howie gets a job at Artie Kraft’s Arts ‘N Crafts hoping to score with his lady coworkers. After all, girls love a sensitive guy, and what’s more sensitive than dedicating your life to selling yarn and … stuff? (Okay, so maybe it’d be a good idea to actually learn what one sells at an arts ‘n crafts store.) But things don’t go exactly according to plan. Coworker #1 is Cora: tiny, much-pierced, and way too fierce to screw with in any sense. Coworker #2 is Kristy: blonde, bubbly, unattainable perfection. And Coworker #3 is, well, Arthur. It goes without saying that he’s not an option. Right?

… Right?

Yeah, Howie’s life just got straight up confusing.

Pun intended.

WWW Wednesday: 19th April 2017

April 19, 2017April 19, 2017 Ali@abookishlife13 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I just started Want You Gone by Chris Brookmyre yesterday so I’m only around 20% in but enjoying it so far. It’s the 8th book in his Jack Parlabane series but could probably be read as a standalone (I’ve certainly missed a few in the series). This time the story is about the dangers of the internet and I have to admit it’s already got me thinking about all of the information I put online. I received this from NetGalley and am on the blog tour so you can expect a review this weekend.

On audio I’ve finally managed to get my hands on Into the Fire by Jeaniene Frost. It’s the fourth and final book in her Night Prince series. This series is definitely one of my guilty pleasures and has already had me teehee-ing in the car.

Recently Finished

First book finished this week was Last Breath by Robert Bryndza which I received from NetGalley. It’s the fourth in the DCI Erika Foster series and is possibly the best in the series so far. This time Erika and the team are on the hunt for a serial killer who stalks and befriends his victims online.

It’s more of a police procedural than a who dunit but it doesn’t really matter as for me the highlight of Bryndza’s books are the characters. Erika isn’t necessarily my favourite but the secondary characters like Moss are brilliant. I should have a full review up soon.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist The next book finished this week was Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. I have to admit I read this because it fit a challenge (yellow cover) but given my love for Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares I was quite excited about it. Unfortunately it turned out to be a bit of a disappointment.

It’s an easy enough read and really enjoyable in places but it just fell a little bit flat for me. It might be because I was comparing to the film or it may be I missed a lot of the music references or possibly just that I didn’t really take to the characters but something was definitely missing. And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1)

The third and final book finished this week was And I Darken by Kiersten White. I knew I wanted to read this the second I saw it was loosely based on the story of Vlad the Impaler. I’m not generally a fan of historical fiction but this is more of an alternative history where it’s Vlad’s daughter Lada who is the violent, slightly unstable and totally ruthless warrior on the hunt for power. Something that’s not particularly easy for a woman in that time period.

I loved this book and literally couldn’t put it down. It wasn’t just Lada’s story it was also that of her brother Radu who’s seen as a bit of a weakling and a coward but is actually the more cunning of the two. The relationship between them is fantastic and so is the story. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series when it comes out this summer.

Reading Next

My plan for the next week is to keep making some progress on my NetGalley shelf so I’m hoping to read A Dark so Deadly by Stuart MacBride and Sleep Tight by Caroline Mitchell. They are both crime/thrillers so I think I’ll probably need to mix it up a bit with either Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh or Legion by Julie Kagawa

A Dark So Deadly Sleep Tight (Detective Ruby Preston ) Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist, #1) Legion (Talon, #4)

Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Teaser Tuesday: 18th April 2017

April 18, 2017April 17, 2017 Ali@abookishlife13 Comments

This week my teaser comes from And I Darken by Kiersten White which I both started and finished yesterday. It’s classed as YA fantasy but as there’s no magic this is probably a bit misleading. It’s more an alternate history of Vlad the Impaler but with Vlad changed to Lada a wild and ferocious girl. The fact that I couldn’t put this down should tell you everything about what I thought of it 😀

My Teaser

“I think of you like a sister,” he said. “Like a brilliant, violent, occasionally terrifying sister that I would follow to the ends of the earth, in part because I respected her so much and in part because I feared what she would do to me if I refused.”

She nodded. “I would do awful things.”

~ 73% And I Darken by Kiersten White

Blurb

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

WWW Wednesday: 12th April 2017

April 12, 2017April 11, 2017 Ali@abookishlife24 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I’ve finally started Last Breath by Robert Bryndza, woohoo!! This is the fourth in his Detective Erika Foster series and a book I’ve been looking forward to since finishing the previous one in the series.

Very early days, I’m only a few chapters in but so far so good and I’ve seen some incredible reviews for it so I have high hopes.

Recently Finished

First book finished this week was The Cornish Escape by Lily Graham which I received from NetGalley. The story is about a woman who, after her husband admits to having an affair, escapes to a village on the Cornish coast. While out for a walk one day she discovers a derelict cottage hidden away near the cliffs. Curious about it and all of the local rumours about a curse she begins to dig into its past.

This was somewhat different from the light and fluffy romance I was expecting but I really enjoyed the mystery around the cottage. My biggest gripe was the ending which left me feeling very frustrated. You can read my full review here. Saint Death

The second book finished this week was Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwick, which was another NetGalley pick. It’s about two guys who live near the Mexico/America border and end up on the bad side of one of the gangs. They have 36 hours to find a lot of money or they’ll likely end up dead.

Have to admit to having very mixed views on this one. For the most part I liked the story, the writing was good and there are some brilliant scenes but I found the whole thing a little slow and difficult to focus on. It’s not the easiest of topics to read but is probably worth sticking with. Review should be up later this week.

Reading Next

OK I have to confess that last week I got distracted by 13 Reasons Why on Netflix (watch it if you get a chance) but this week I’m hoping to get a bit more reading in particularly over the Easter weekend. Next up from the NetGalley shelf will most likely be Want You Gone by Chris Brookmyre and A Dark so Deadly by Stuart MacBride (my two favourite Scottish crime authors). I also have Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor so I’m still hoping to squeeze it in somewhere.

In other news I discovered a new real life book club the pick for which is Anatomy of a Soldier by Harry Parker. Initially when I heard it was a story told by a series of objects I kind of thought “oh no!!!” but having listened to a bit of the audio I’m actually kind of excited about it. I managed to get a copy of the book from the library but I’m thinking I may try and get the audio instead.

A Dark So Deadly Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) Want You Gone (Jack Parlabane, #8) Anatomy of a Soldier

Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!

Teaser Tuesday: 11th April 2017

April 11, 2017April 10, 2017 Ali@abookishlife1 Comment

This week my teaser comes from Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwick which I received from NetGalley. I’m around halfway through and while I’m liking the writing and it has had some very tense and gripping scenes I have to admit I’m not finding it the easiest read. I think it’s the subject matter but also I feel like it jumps around a lot rather than just telling the story.

My Teaser

And is it better, Arturo has wondered, to be a fly who spends the whole of its short life banging against a closed window, buzzing crazy, buzzing, buzzing until its life runs out and it drops to the windowsill, slowly twitching, or to be a fly who finds an opening, a gap in the window frame, and flies out to who knows where? Who knows what?

~ 7% Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwick

Blurb

A potent, powerful and timely thriller about migrants, drug lords and gang warfare set on the US/Mexican border by prize-winning novelist, Marcus Sedgwick.

Anapra is one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the Mexican city of Juarez – twenty metres outside town lies a fence – and beyond it – America – the dangerous goal of many a migrant. Faustino is one such trying to escape from the gang he’s been working for. He’s dipped into a pile of dollars he was supposed to be hiding and now he’s on the run. He and his friend, Arturo, have only 36 hours to replace the missing money, or they’re as good as dead. Watching over them is Saint Death. Saint Death (or Santissima Muerte) – she of pure bone and charcoal-black eye, she of absolute loyalty and neutral morality, holy patron to rich and poor, to prostitute and narco-lord, criminal and police-chief. A folk saint, a rebel angel, a sinister guardian.

WWW Wednesday: 5th April 2017

April 5, 2017April 4, 2017 Ali@abookishlife15 Comments

The WWW Wednesday meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading

I started The Cornish Escape by Lily Graham yesterday and am already around a quarter of the way through. This was a book I requested from NetGalley when I was in the mood for a summery (or spring) romance and while it’s not exactly what I was expecting I’m really enjoying it.

The story is about a woman who, after her husband admits to having an affair, escapes to the Cornish coast. Out for a walk she comes across a derelict cottage hidden away and falls in love with it. Deciding to buy it she starts looking into its troubled past.

There hasn’t been much in the way of romance so far but I’m loving the mystery around the cottage. There’s something a little bit creepy about it.

Recently Finished

First book finished this week was The Red Road by Denise Mina. This was a book club read and the fourth in a series (why???) so it’s safe to say it was a bit of a struggle. It was easy reading but there were too many characters and not enough of a plot so I found myself really not caring. It wasn’t a who dunnit or a police procedural or even a character driven story so I’m just not sure what the point of it was. I don’t think I’ll be rushing to read any of the authors other books.

Blacklist (Beautiful Idols #2) The next book finished was Blacklist by Alyson Noel which is the second in the Beautiful Idols trilogy and a book I received from NetGalley. The series is suspense/mystery about a group of teens who get mixed up in the club promotion and celebrity scene in Hollywood.

I read the first book around this time last year and really enjoyed but I think this one was better. Someone is missing and someone is being accused of their murder so there are a few twists and turns as they investigate what happened. It’s easy and kind of addictive reading but finished on a cliffhanger which is very frustrating. Swan Lake (Timeless Fairy Tales, #7)

The final book finished this week was Swan Lake by K.M. Shea. It’s the seventh in her Timeless Fairytales series but they can all be read as standalones. I usually love this authors books but this retelling of Swan Lake fell a little bit flat and is probably my least favourite of her stories so far. It did have a lot of the familiar themes I love but I thought the writing was weaker and I just didn’t take to any of the characters.

Reading Next

This week I am determined to make some more progress on my NetGalley shelf (and stop requesting books) so I think my next reads will be Last Breath by Robert Bryndza, Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwick and A Dark so Deadly by Stuart MacBride. I also have Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor so I may sneak that in somewhere too as I’m going to a book signing a week on Friday.

Last Breath (Detective Erika Foster, #4) Saint Death A Dark So Deadly Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1)

Have you read any of the books above or have any other book you’d recommend? Leave comments and links below and I’ll respond when I can.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!